Fiberglass seat knockdown metal framed chair



May 31, 1960 c. P. MoLLA 2,938,575

EIBERGLAss sEA11 xNocxnowN METAL FRAMED CHAIR Filed April 4, 1958 4- 54 1 E] INVENTOR.

C//HUES P MOLLA ATTORNEY United States Patent O FIBERGLASS SEAT KNOCKDOWN METAL FRAMED CHAIR Charles P. Molla, Pinewood Road, Old Westbury, N.Y.

Filed Apr. 4, 1958, Ser. No. 726,411

Claims. (Cl. 155-191) This invention relates to what are generally referred to as knockdown chairs, primarily wherein the chair consists of two similar or identical chair sides secured together to form a complete chair. More particularly, the invention deals with a chair structure of this type and kind, wherein a novel fiberglass seat structure is employed to unite the upper seat and back rest supporting portions of the chair frame and in completing the chair assembly.

Still more particularly, the invention deals with a chair structure of the character described, wherein the berglass seat comprises a multiplicity of interlaced fiberglass strips, edge portions of which are united in a folded rim portion and, further, wherein the seat is molded to provide the desired contour to the seat and back rest portion.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a seat made according to my invention, diagrammatically illustrating, in part, the structure of a fiberglass seat which is employed.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of the chair shown in Fig. 1, illustrating the general contour of the fiberglass seat and its engagement with the frame.

Fig. 3 is a partial front detail view of the lower portion of one-half of the chair frame.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged exaggerated detail sectional view substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

In practice, I provide a chair, comprising three primary parts, namely two similar side frames 10, 16 and a combination seat and back rest part 11 fashioned from molded fiberglass, as more specifically hereinafter described. As each chair frame side 10, is generally of the same construction, like references will designate like parts and primed on the associated part. Considering the part 10, as shown in the side View of Fig. 2, the frames comprise a front leg member 12, inclined upwardly and inwardly and joining a forward loop portion 13 of an armrest 14 in a curved portion 15. The armrest 14 includes a supplemental widespreading member 16 welded thereto to give greater supporting area to the armrest and the armrest terminates, at its rear end, in an upwardly and inwardly curved back rest supporting portion 17.

At 18 is shown an upwardly and inwardly inclined rear leg member, curved, at its upper end, as indicated at 19, to conform generally with the curvature and the upper end of the leg member 18, as well as the upper portion of the curved part 15 of the leg member 12, is Welded to a seat supporting portion 20 of the frame. The forward end of this seat supporting portion curves downwardly to a slight extent, as seen at 21, and the rear por- 2,938,575 Patented May 31, 1960 rice tion of 20 joins an upwardly and rearwardly inclined back rest supporting portion 22 in a curved portion 23. The end 17 is Welded or otherwise xed to the back rest supporting portion 22 and this back rest supporting portion is curved rearwardly to a slight extent, at its upper end, as seen at 24. The lower ends of the legs 12 and 18 have enlarged feet, as seen at 25, 26, respectively. The lower portions of the legs 12 and 18 are joined in an upwardly arched brace member 27 welded to the leg members at a position above the feet 25 and 26,'as clearly noted in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

All of the frame parts, thus described, are generally round in cross-sectional contour or, in other words, are in the form of round rods and at 28 is shown a coupling and bracing frame, the general contour of which is shown in the frame 28' of Fig. 3 of the drawing, and these frames are formed from strip metal, each frame being fashioned to form a more or less yoke-shaped member having downwardly curved lower ends 29, 29 welded to the braces 27 and upwardly curved upper ends 30, 30', which are welded to the seat supporting members 20, 20'. The central portion of the brace frames 28, 28' have iiattened inner ends 31, 31 joined by a bolt 32; note, in this connection, Fig. 5 of the drawing.

The frames 28, 28' join and brace the lower portions of the resulting chair; whereas, the seat and back rest portions of the resulting chair, or the members 20, 22, partially defining this structure, are joined, braced and reinforced by the seat and back rest member or part 11.

The part 11 is fashioned from suitably crossed double strands, or ribbons of fiberglass 33, diagrammatically illustrated, in part, in Fig. 1 of the drawing and an enlarged section being illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing. The crossed or interlaced portions of these double ribbons are adhered together and form sturdy straps and their peripheral edges are bound in a doubled finishing tape or edging 34, which is also cemented in position.

In forming the seat and back rest member or part 11, the several ribbons and edging while in a relatively soft and pliable state, are shaped in a suitable die to form a downwardly and laterally curved seat portion 35, note Fig. 2, joining a transversely curved back rest portion 36 in an upwardly and transversely curved joining section 37 and the side edges 38 arranged in a gradually contracted position extending from the forward corner portions 39 to the upper corner portions 4l?, as clearly noted in Fig. 1 of the drawing, and these sides 38 are slightly rolled to iit upon the supports 29, 22. This molded seat and back rest part, by virtue of its shaping, forms what might be termed a contour part, which will comfortably receive the body of the user of the chair. The sides 38 of the part 11 are secured to supports 20, 22 by bolts, as at 41 and 42.

It will appear, from a consideration of Fig. l of the drawing, that the upper edge portion 43 of the part or member 11, is curved both upwardly and transversely to conform with the rounded back 36 and the forward edge portion 44 of the part 11 is curved downwardly and projects beyond the end 21 of the supports 28, as clearly noted in Fig. 2 of the drawing, and is slightly concaved, as will appear from a consideration of Fig. l.

After the part 11 has been molded into a desired form, it is set and hardened and, when set and hardened, the part 11 becomes a very rigid and, yet, slightly yieldable seat and back rest portion of the chair. It is sufficiently rigid to join the supporting portions 20 yand 22 and maintain the same in substantially xed spaced relationship, it being apparent, however, that these members 20, 22 can yield slightly to extremely heavy weights of occupants of the chair.

From the foregoing, it will appear that a very simple and economical form of chair structure is produced,

3 utilizing the three primary pants or members 10, 10 and 1-1, these parts being separable from each other in shipfV ment and transportation of vthe chair by simply removing the bolts 32, 41 and 42.

` "It will' also appearthat theresutling chair, While b eing )strong and durable, by virtue of its' strulglllalj'ontour, will .be extremely vlight in weight; thus, facilitating handling thereof.

Having fully described my invention, what 4VI ,claim as -new and desire to secure by Letters Patent A1. A knockdown chair of the character described, ,comprising two' similar side frame parts and a seat `and back rest part, each side frame part comprising a pair of front and rear ared legs ixedly secured to a seat supporting member, said -seat supporting member'including anypwardly and rearwardly extending integral back'restrsupporting member, means comprisiriganarehed.member `permanently xed to the lowerportion of thefrontand rear'leg members of each frame part for bracing saidleg ,members, a yoke-shaped coupling nand bracing Afija-Ine permanently uniting said last named meansrwith theseat supporting member of each frame part, said seat land in attachment to said seat supporting members.

3. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the iber- Y 'glass structure of the seat` part comprises diagonally crossed dual ribbons united -togetherrand to va folded edging part finishing peripheral edges of the seat 4and back rest part. n

4. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the forward edge portion of the seat and the `rear edge portion of the back rest of the seat and back rest part extend beyond end limits of the -seat supporting and back rest Supporting members Qf the. trarne, Part- 5. In vchairs of the character Adescribed, a fiberglass seat and back rest"unit"part, `comprising a diagonally crossed interlacing `of dual vfiberglass ribbons united one with the other owhere crpsrsed, p'eripherl'edge's' of athe ribbons -being arranged 'within adfsecu'redto a -folded finishing strip of fiberglass, and said -Seat and back rest part being molded to fnna relatiyely rigid part curved longitudinally and transversely to produce a contour seat and back rest part.

References Cited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES'PATENTS Sweden May 12, 19,53 

